By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Even with the passage of the Vigilante Group Nigeria (VGN) (Establishment) Bill 2022 (HB 437) last week by the Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola insists that the Group remains an illegal body.
Aregbesola made this clarification at the 64th Session of the State House Briefing held on Thursday at Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he provided updates and strides being made by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in the core area of internal security as well as the innovations that have been introduced by the Ministry of Interior to foster collaboration, amongst the Security Agencies responsible for internal security in Nigeria.
The Minister state categorically that the Federal Government has not recognised VGN, pointing out that as far as he is concerned, the VGN or any other vigilante group are operating illegally.
He said the para-military outfits recognised by the government and that are under the Ministry of Interior include the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) which he said have the statutory rights to regulate Vigilante Groups in Nigeria.
Collaborating the Minister of Interior, the NSCDC, Commandant- General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, said that VGN or any other vigilante group are operating illegally as they have not been accredited by the government.
Said he: “It’s not true that Vigilante Groups have been given the permission to operate in Nigeria. Even VGN have come to us but when we tell them the requirements they must meet, they ran away because they don’t want to subject themselves to the Code of Engagement we gave to them.
They don’t want to be under our control because they believe that their members have military background and will not want to take instructions from NSCDC”, Audi alleged.
Prompt News reports that the Commander General of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Navy Captain Umar Bakori (Rtd), has commended the National Assembly for the speedy passage of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria Bill and appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to it.
The Senate in Committee of the Whole had at plenary on Tuesday, January 17 considered the VGN (Establishment) Bill 2022 (HB 437) and approved clauses one to 30 as recommended, interpretation as recommended, Schedule as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended, including the Explanatory Memorandum as recommended.
The Bill, which is sponsored by Senate Leader, Ibrahim Gobir was read for the third time and passed. It seeks to establish the Vigilante Group of Nigeria with the powers to provide community policing, maintenance of law and order, as well as community service for Nigerians. The House of Representatives first passed it into law in November 2021.
The Committee of the Whole had considered and adopted 29 out of the 30 clauses in the Bill’s report presented by Kabiru Idris.
The ad-hoc committee had deliberated on this and agreed that all aspects of financial obligations from the Federal Government should be removed and that the group should stand on its own, generate contributions from Federal, State and Local Government.
Bakori assured the Federal Government and the National Assembly that his officers and men numbering about One million, Five Hundred Thousand and embedded in all communities, local governments and states in Nigeria have been well trained by the Police, DSS and NSCDC to complement national security efforts at all levels.
The Commander General noted that with the passage of the long awaited Bill by the NASS, President Buhari’s promise to Nigerians that he would bequeath a safe and secure country before he leaves power is now realisable.
